Walking

( See also "Walking" in the topic page on 'Activity Holidays' in the section on ' Travel')

In the last 20 years, the English have taken to walking as though it was the latter-day embodiment of fox-hunting. As not unduly taxing, as an opportunity to get out into the fresh air, and even as a companionable interlude (if only with the dog), it has attracted herds of followers, changes in society, and even new rights and new legislation.

Local walks

‘Walk’, the quarterly magazine of the Ramblers Association ( www.ramblers.org.uk ) and all of the walking magazines on the newstands regularly contain details of local walks. See also http://www.whi.org.uk/ where some 400 goups run local walks.

-in England. Local tourist information offices are full of information and are very willing helpers. ‘Walk Britain’, the annual Handbook of the Ramblers Association(www.ramblers.org.uk) is a mine of information.

The Ramblers annual Handbook provides information about local accommodation, but is not comprehensive. See also Guidebooks(above) like “Staying off the beaten track” and Alastair Sawday’s Guides, including “British Bed and Breakfast”.

Clothing

For advice, reviews etc, see the walking magazines. See Yellow Pages and/or the web for specialist shops such as Millets, Youth Hostels Association, Snow and Rock, Cotswold, et al

Walking groups

See the Ramblers Association Annual Handbook for details of local walking groups.

Also see http://www.whi.org.uk/ (Walking the Way to Health Initiative) under whose auspices 400 local groups organise local walks for social as well as exercise purposes.

The Saturday Walkers Club is a London and South East England based walking group. There are several walks each week, all are free, and everyone is welcome. See http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/